Thanks. My 1917 was obviously issued and used. Sometime during its lifetime it was reblued. But all numbers still match except the sideplate and it really likes a diet of .45 auto rim with 231. Because I prefer shooters, its a keeper for me.

The side plate is not serial numbered. If you're referring to the # you see on the inside of the sideplate, that is the factory assembly/'soft fitting' # and should only match the same numbers in the yoke hinge on the frame and yoke if the side plate is original.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

I don't think I ever posted this humble old example.

Nice looking commercial model there Derry.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Don't think I have posted this before. S&W 1917 serial #13

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George Jamison

Wow, number 13! Cool!

Wow, gorgeous!

And it already has the fat top grips. Are there shoulders in the chambers or bored straight thru?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

This gun is completely orginial, numbers everywhere it should even the grips. Should have a factory letter soon.

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George Jamison

This old timer has been around.. US service during WWI, sold to UK for WWII. Sold out of UK stores and is now back in the US, and dressed up with a touch of Wyoming style from Patrick Grashorn.

Jim,

You are correct. My error. I checked tonight, the inside of the side plate and yoke hinge both have the numbers: 541 38 (with the space as indicated). Because the assembly number on the sideplate is 5 digits, I thought it is the sn from a different 1917. Thanks. It's good to know my 1917 is really all matching!

Tim

Here is a commercial Model 1917 that is the pride of my S&W accumulation. As you can see it is in excellent condition and it shoots as good as it looks!

Attached Images

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One of these days I'll take a real picture. Still haven't gotten around to firing off a round. I seem to recall that perhaps this didn't have the safety block. All I actually remember is something about the safety block, from this forum including pics, so half a moon and two singles w/hammer resting on empty hole. This was sold as a five digit SN. However, further inspection revealed that in spite of the actual six digit SN being in four separate areas an assembly number inside the crane was used.

An easy enough mistake I suppose though as I recall the original listing pre-auction was indeed the correct SN. Anywho, after contacting the appropriate government agency, incorporating my tax dollars at work, a letter was expedited admitting the error.

You cannot see from the profile, but the stags have a palm swell on the left side. Intentionally or not they were made for a southpaw. Also of note is instead of being flat on the heel they have around 30* angle. Not sure if this was the original cut or perhaps to repair a chip. It could have been that material was running out or it was cut to help prevent chipping in future use.[ETA: I also thought that maybe the angle on the butt was cut to prevent the stag from digging into a gent of generous girth whilst holstered.]

Reblue w/obvious wire wheel buffing behind the blast shield. Ordinance bomb stamp, "United States Property", US Model 1917, in spite of cut lanyard bolt, & all SN still legible. Matching SN 1190XX w/lot of colour on frame, not quite as much on cylinder or right side of brl. The rifling shows damage in what I speculate was a flat blade screwdriver clearing a squib.

The odd aspect is a capital R stamped under the ordnance bomb, cylinder face & on the brl flat next to the frame. I'm not sure as to the intent/meaning. All in all I've grown fond of this example as slightly modified to taste. I paid more because of the stags and the 5 digit SN that didn't pan out. I could have returned it for refund, but chose to keep the sidearm.

It might now be worth what I paid!

Attached Images

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Is there any special literature dealing with the 1917 and 1937/1946 Brazil contract models?

Some more questions about these guns concerning their working constitution:

How are these guns regulated? 6 o'clock hold, point of aim or for just hitting the target. I know, I know, those guns were meat to be a workhorse for soldiers - not for paper punching.

What about the disease called "oversized chamber throats" often found on S&W M 25 models. Are the M1917/M1937 suffer the same way?

What about the availability of the half moon clips? Are they still available?

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Regards from Germany
Stephan

I bought full & half moon clips manufactured by S&W within the last year. I don't recall if i purchased then online or not though. Kinda pricey. but the mod 25 I snagged didn't have any and the 1917 was in the same boat.

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/ad/252670.htm#252670B

You can have the cylinder reamed to accept 45 Colts, BUT it is not a good plan because it would have .030 to much head space. The rear of the ACP cylinders are longer from the center of the ejector to the rear of the cylinder to allow for the moon clips. Some have done it but when you shoot Colts in it they will move forward the extra .030 when the firing pin strikes then slam back upon ignition. NOT GOOD. You can convert a model 28 357 cylinder. I may have one already done coming available as I am fitting a longer 44 mag cylinder that I am reaming to 45C and milling the center for 45ACP full moons to use in my 25-2. Once done I will have a extra 45 ACP cylinder and a 45 Colt cylinder that are 'homeless"

I have also seen a short 45 Colt cylinder for a 25-3 for sale at GB recently. The 25-5 and 25-7 cylinders are longer in the front as there is less barrel inside the frame. The shorter length cylinders do not allow a few of the longer 45C loads like the 255gr Keith bullet when seated to the crimp groove as the nose of the bullet sticks out slightly from the cylinder. Most commercial loads function fine. Maybe not the really heavies, like the 300gr, but those should be avoided in these older guns anyway.

The original 45 ACP cylinder for my Brazilian does indeed have oversized throats .0455. Shoots jacket bullets fine. I seldom shoot lead from the ACP cylinder, but do from its Colt cylinder. These were real war guns meant for last ditch defense and never meant to be target shooters.

I thought that the early 1917's had stocks with a dished out area at the top??????

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James Redfield
LM #497

You are correct, Jim. According to Pate the M1917 had concave grip medallion areas until approx. March 1918 and sn 30,000.

Bob

Just for MORE fun

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I Love This Site

This thread, like my Model 1917, is an oldie but a goodie:

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

This are the grips off my 1917 serial number 13. These are the later grip style and are correctly number. Never say never with S&W


I started a thread on this gun sometime ago.

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George Jamison

Still don't have photos of mine. Forgot to get before pictures. 37 Brazillian.was reblued with some bigger pits not removed, bobbed hammer, 3.250" barrel, will roundbutt and Ceracote with big dot front or shotgun front sight. Anyone use the shotgun tritium big dot sight on one of these workhorses? Looks to be an easy mount for a Mossberg style tritium dot.

I posted these before but here they are again in a different setting.

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Rush

Very nice, Rush.

If you or anyone else have any of the boxes (2 types) with .45 ammo in the half moon clips that they don't want, I would be interested in them.



Bob

Here's one I got off Gunbroker- serial # 595xx on frame, barrel and cylinder. It's been parkerized, has the ordinance bomb stamp on left side above the cylinder, "AA" on the left side in front of the trigger, and the eagle stamp with "S7" on the left side frame behind the trigger. I think it was shipped out in May 1918.


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You might probably know that the "AA" stamp stands for Anniston Arsenal (now Anniston Army Depot) in Alabama, the Army Ordnance rework facility. I have seen numerous U.S. firearms with that stamp - including a rare A.J. Savage slide M1911 pistol. Parkerizing was the norm during the arsenal overhaul. I once had a Model of 1917 Colt that was refurbished and Parkerized similarly at Anniston for use in WWII. This depot is still in operation with a greatly expanded mission including repair of large vehicles and tanks, and munitions storage.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I figured it was refurbed for WWII but wasn't sure what the AA stood for- thanks!


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I'm not an expert on the subject but believe the "AA" mark stands for Augusta Arsenal, different state.

Is this the M3, last style holster?

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Jim
S&WCA #819

That was my understanding as well.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I picked this up at a gun show recently. Very unique. Anyone ever seen anything like it? All original, except for the alterations.



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My father-in-law gave me two 1917s. One is blued and the other is in an olive drab type finish. Is this common? Both US Army. Shoot both and they are awesome, accurate guns.

I've seen it posted that the 'OD' color was due to parkerizing absorbing the cosmoline packing grease.

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Registration? NEVER!

Original M1917 S&W revolvers were blued. Many received refurbishment at U.S. arsenals during and after the WWII period and were Parkerized in the process. This matte finish varies in color from grey to nearly black to olive drab. There should be an arsenal mark on the left of the frame for those that received this treatment officially.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I also have a s/w. And colt looking for aprox value I know condition is a lot mine are very good to exillent cond

I would really like to have a nice 1917, not at the top of my want list, but in the top 5. Reviewing this thread seems to move it up a notch or two, very nice examples posted.

I passed on one the other day a gentleman had listed for $700. Numbers matched, proper stamps & markings, probably 70 - 75%, honest wear, still chambered for 45 acp, BUT, Pachmeyer Presentations ( could possibly live with that) and the kicker was he had years ago installed a red ramp front site (couldn't live with that). I asked what his lowest OTD price was and he said he would not take less than $675. Haggled for a minute to no avail. I feel certain I did the right thing, what say you?

So the search continues.

The real value in a 1917 lies in its originality and its condition. If it lacks one or the other to any significant degree, I'd pass.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I attached the pic of my 1917. It is a "parts" gun from what I can find. The barrel was replaced by a "non" S&W gunsmith, no serial number on it, but does have the "United States Property" stamp. The finish on the barrel does not match the frame. The cylinder is not original, neither are the grips. The crane is original. Action is near perfect and overall the gun is in great shape for it's age. Manufactured December 1917, S/N 5740. The hammer has the original "curved groove" effect and the lanyard ring is not missing.

Attached Images

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Found this on the local Armslist at a pawn shop in Colorado Springs, a quick 60 mile drive from Denver. One of the 998 commercials built after the war and someone did a very interesting rear sight windage adjustment addition. Serial 210151

Welcome to the Forum.

We need some more info please. Do the revolvers have their original finishs? Condition of the bores, grips. etc?

Pictures would be a great help.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I presume the SN on the cylinder doesn't match the butt number.

The replacement barrel was probably installed by a military armorer. Or it could have been a military surplus barrel.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Picked this one up a few weeks ago. Was interested in it for the pre WWII Magna stocks that were on it, needed them for a .38/44 OD that I have.

I believe it's a S&W 1917 Commercial chambered in .45ACP. I say believe because it's in no way original. The barrel has been cut down to 3.5". The serial number on the cylinder, extractor, and barrel are removed. The serial on on the crane is not matching. The serial on the frame is 624XX, which is way earlier than the Commercials were supposedly being built. It was missing the lanyard ring but I was able to locate one and make a retaining pin to hold it in place. This is an example of a gun that is so wrong, that it just works.

I had to completely disassemble the gun, clean it, and reassemble properly to get it to work. It could not be cocked into single action and the double action trigger was approximately 2768 pounds. Now, the trigger is a dream in both single action and double.

Only issue left to deal with is the front sight is soldered on leaning slightly to the left. This causes the gun to shoot slightly high and to the right.

So I'm wondering if it's actually a 1917 Commercial frame or if it's a 2nd Model Hand Ejector, or maybe something else completely different. Anyone got an idea on what the frame actually is? It doesn't have the "Made in USA" mark on it, which leads me to think pre 1921.

A couple of thoughts.

The Magna stocks are post WW II; the checkering has rounded corners instead of the pre war sharp corners and the medallion are the smaller post war curved nickel plated instead of the pre war 1/2" flat silver.

On pre war and early post war hand ejectors, the yoke does not have the serial # on it, only the factory assembly number.

The only other frame prior to the "Made In USA" stamped frames (which was ordered June 1922) that could have a 624XX serial number is a 455 HE, 2nd Model. The 1917 Army did not have a S&W logo on the frame. I think I see one on the left side of your frame, if not it's a 1917. Although the 455s did have the logo, it's larger and on the sideplate.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

Right. The serial # is not the same.

Yes, I indicated that this gun was bought for the stocks and used on my .38/44 OD. These are the stocks that I swapped them for. You can see what was on them below.



This is the conundrum with the frame. It's to early for a commercial 1917 and the S&W doesn't match for a second model. Can't figure out any option that makes sense.

bwdilli,

Since the back of the cylinder has no serial and appears to me to have been shaved, the logical assumption was that it started out as a .455 and converted to .45 Colt or .45 Auto Rim. I'm not clear about which of the fitter's numbers are the same on your gun but if all the major parts started out together, the same number should be on the crane, the frame and inside the side plate. The same serial number (different from the fitter's number) should be on the rear facing face of the crane and the front face of the ejector star. Those are both difficult to see but by disassembly or use of a bright light and magnifier, they should be seen by looking through the chambers. My most likely scenario is that it started out as a .455 Second that had its cylinder converted to .45 and a modified .45 barrel installed. But I am stumped by the small logo on the left. If there is a tiny eagle head and S# anywhere on the frame, it would indicate that it was a left over govt. inspected frame.

Nothing but guesses without a close inspection in hand.

In any event, when the front sight is corrected, I think that it is a very attractive and useful carry gun.

Bob

I wantsssss it. Wow what dreams (mine) are made of

I really like the serial number 13 gun posted by gjamison.
Doesn't the number 13 signify bad luck?
I also own a 1917 with a dubious serial number...

Mike

I've probably posted in this thread before, but not going through five years of replies to see,

Grandpas gun:



Although he went to France in WWI, it was almost surely acquired during his long tenure as a postmaster in Iraan, TX, probably when they were being sold through the post office for the princely sum of $16 apiece.